The Innovative Outdoors Walleye Challenge is next, this weekend. It is an annual walleye tournament event set to run in Dunkirk. Big Fish Friday is tomorrow, Aug. 15, with the main event competition set for the next day, Saturday, Aug. 16, with Sunday the possible rain day, if needed. This tournament promises a thrilling experience, with a six-fish box of walleye at weigh-in, teams of two to five anglers (this rule accommodates small boats and large boats), and anglers can use up to three rods/person and up to nine rods per boat. All the waters of Lake Erie and the Upper Niagara River are open in this tournament, including the Canadian waters — that’s a change from several previous tournaments that have run this year.

It will be noteworthy to see if there is any change in daily weights. Do the heaviest walleyes live in Canadian Lake Erie waters? We will learn more about that this weekend.

Participants will weigh their fish on a state-of-the-art certified scale system, just one big fish for Big Fish Friday, and six-fish for the main event the next day. There are optional Big Fish Friday and main event Calcutta’s, as well. This tournament has been an annual favorite of anglers for many years. Apart from the thrill of the competition, participating in tournament fishing is a great way to connect with fellow anglers, learn new techniques, and contribute to the conservation of the walleye population.

Registration ($500/team) is now closed, but the weigh-in events are free and are open to the public and will be held at the Clarion Pavilion on Chadwick Bay, beginning at 5 p.m. on each of the two days. Jim and Diane Steel manage the tournament event. Innovative Outdoors is a division of the Steel Outdoors Group, which promotes competition, conservation and good sportsmanship. Jim is a charter boat captain and the president of the Eastern Lake Erie Charter Boat Association (ELECBA). His charter service is a premium, fun, and affordable adventure as Dream Catcher Sportfishing (www.dreamcatchersportfishing.com, 716-983-7867).

Catching the biggest box of six walleyes is the goal of every angler team. Former military veteran, marine, and retired Charter Captain Bob Rustowicz (L) is among regular walleye event competitors. Photo by Forrest Fisher

The Steel family is actively engaged in supporting the outdoors on many fronts, including with the Chautauqua County and Erie County Federation of Sportsmen, the New York State Conservation Council, and many other groups. Their dedication to promoting competition, conservation, and good sportsmanship is genuinely inspiring.

See FISHER, Page B3

Similarly, “Experience NY Outdoors,” presented by Innovative Outdoors, is a TV show with Jim and Diane Steel that features outdoor sports and events, predominantly fishing and hunting, throughout New York State.

The show provides a unique and immersive experience, taking viewers on a journey to some of the most scenic and exciting outdoor locations in the state. Experience NY Outdoors is dedicated to filming fishing, hunting and other outdoor sports and activities. The goal is to showcase and share what New York State has to offer sportsmen and women in a fun, exciting and positive image. Occasionally, a show will feature other areas of the country. The members of Experience NY Outdoors TV will often introduce other individuals to the show to showcase an area, technique or that individual’s talents in an outdoor sport. They even encourage viewers to send in their own video footage for possible use on the program. Experience NY Outdoors TV can be watched on Saturdays at 6:30 a.m. on WUTV-FOX Buffalo, Saturdays 6:30 a.m. WUHF-FOX Rochester, Saturdays 6:30 a.m. WTHV-CBS Syracuse, Saturdays 5:30 p.m. WBGT-MyTV Rochester, Sundays 11 a.m. WJKP-MyTV Elmira and the surrounding areas. Viewers widely accept the show and can reach over 1 million households. Digitally, viewers both nationally and internationally can watch the show on their YouTube channel and other streaming platforms. Hats off to the Steel Family!

Gotta love the outdoors.

CALENDAR

Aug. 14-17: Traditional Archery Shoot, Hawkeye Bowmen, 13300 Clinton St., Alden, NY; hawkeyebowmen@yahoo.com.

Aug. 15-16: Innovative Outdoors Walleye Challenge (Dunkirk), $500 entry, Jim Steel, 716-481-5348; https://innovative-outdoors.com/.

Aug. 17: Chautauqua Lake Bassmasters 2025 Bass for Cash Open II, 6 a.m.-2 p.m., Prendergast Boat Launch. $200 entry. Tournament director: 716-708-0330.

Aug. 22-23: WNY Walleye Assoc.; Lake Erie Walleye Tournament; $250 entry, Fish Donkey format, Rick Malik, 716-548-8219 or Ron Kucinski, 716-545-5925.

Aug. 30: Labor Day Shoot, Hanover Fish & Game, sporting and 5-Stand, NSCA registered, 780 Overhiser Rd., Silver Creek, 716-934-4028.